The Four Day Week Trend
12 Nov, 20245 minutesπ The four-day work week is gaining momentum across industries, with companies closing an extra day, rather than simply offering flexible working hours. But could it ever fit into the world of in-house legal departments?
Law firms and in-house legal teams are legendary for their marathon work hours β but what if the future looked a little more... flexible?
π A UK trial of the four-day week, where companies were closed one extra day a week, saw 92% of businesses sticking with it after a six-month pilot. Employees reported a better work-life balance, fewer sick days, and higher productivity.
Sounds dreamy, but can this really apply to a sector where deadlines and client needs rarely take a break?
Some in-house legal teams are already testing the waters. Atom Bankβs legal department, for example, shifted to a four-day week in 2021, and saw focused productivity and happier staff. Employees get the same wage as before and can also work from anywhere with no mandatory days in the office. They say this very loose way of operating has boosted business, backed up by landing their first year in profit last year.
Could closing the office for an extra day lead to more efficient work in your office?
Or would it leave your inbox flooded with emails?
What do you think? Letβs chat about it in the comments! β¬οΈ